These Are the 14 Coolest Sneakers of the Week

The Olympics start this week. And like the styles of many of our favorite athletes, the sneaker releases are appropriately bold. There are updates to historical sneakers, as well as a little bit of revisionist history from one of the most iconic designers of all time. There's also a good mix of traditional and extreme aesthetics—meaning there's something for everyone. Don't miss out.

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Nike LunarEpic Low Flyknit "ULTD"

Without question the most sought-after pair of sneakers this week is this Nike LunarEpic Low in an Olympic-inspired colorway. These came as an unannounced drop earlier in the summer and disappeared in seconds. This week is the official release—and it shouldn't sit on shelves for much longer.

Smaller-footed guys should rejoice: While everyone else is scrambling for the other LunarEpics, you can grab the women's colorway is at least as cool and even a little more wearable. Just remember when you're buying women's shoes to add 1.5 sizes to your size to ensure they fit just right.

If you're looking to grab attention this weekend, the Hyperdunk in Triple Volt is for you. Let's ignore the fact that it's an incredible technical athletic shoe for just a moment and take a second to appreciate the boldness of the color. Nike's Volt color was a game changer when it hit, and this totally tonal tech shoe maintains that heritage.

The Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 10 is a technical basketball shoe, let's say that up front. But it's one of LeBron's favorite shoes to wear on the court (he will sometimes switch into the Soldiers when development of his latest signature sneaker is faltering). This Olympic-inspired multicolored palette adds a splash of interest on an otherwise subdued colorway.

It's impossible to follow the sneaker world and not be inundated with news of Adidas' Boost technology—but the sole tech is so popular and comfortable, it's worth staying informed. This week the brand brought Boost to a very retro set of sneakers: EQT Supports. It's a bold blend of past and present in standard-issue black and white.

When it comes to reinterpreting classic silhouettes, oftentimes the most interesting thing a brand can do it play with unique textures and materials. This week Adidas releases its "Polygon Pack," which features graphically manipulated leathers, making these sneaker literally multifaceted. The über-popularity of the Stan Smith makes this pair from the pack the easiest choice.

If you want something that feels a little more retro than a Stan Smith (but you don't necessarily want to spend $1,000), the Pro Model from this weeks' "Polygon Pack" gives the 1965 silhouette a very modern interpretation with an architectural feel. Big ups to fans of Epcot.

Adidas' Court Vantage is a seldom-seen shoe with a rich history. Most recently the aesthetic that the Court Vantage offers has mostly been appropriated by sneakers like Common Project's Achilles Low, but with this almost-quilted triangular tessellation, Adidas has found a way to make its offering singular again.

Rarely named Adidas' most exciting sneaker, the Rod Laver offers just the right understated, uncomplicated style to pair with the perfect casual Friday look. Adidas is offering the Laver in Primeknit for the first time, lightening it up a bit and turning it into a go-to weekend sneaker.

Stephan Curry's sneakers with Under Armour have been wildly successful (despite major, industry-wide griping over the latest game shoe), but the potential success of the pairing has yet to be tested in the lifestyle market. This weekend will see the first release of Curry's lifestyle sneaker, the Lux, and the most accessible pair is this black-and-gum option.

You may not understand the Jordan hype train, but that doesn't mean you have to ignore the whole movement. This weekend's duo of Air Jordan 1s are light on history and heavy on wearability. This black-and-white version can fit into any wardrobe, and you won't have to fight throngs of tweens to get a pair.

If you're still looking for the perfect summer sneaker, this white-and-black colorway of the Jordan 1 is a no brainer. The lighter of the pack that releases this weekend offers a sportier, more athletic look that will still be in style next summer—and every season in between.

Tinker Hatfield famously created the bulk of Michael Jordan's game shoes, essentially becoming a one-man factory of sneaker history. One of the most well-known colorways of the Jordan 7 is the "Olympic" colorway that was chosen by Michael Jordan himself when Hatfield presented two options to wear to the Olympics that year. This week's "Alternate" is the other choice that Hatfield gave Jordan, and now you can own a piece of this alternate history.

One of the most fun things to see at the Olympics is what kind of exclusive swag the athletes get as a part of the sponsorship with Nike. Every year they create a shoe for all of the athletes to wear on the medal stands in the event that they win. This year, like in years past, Nike has used its most vibrant color: volt, a blazing yellow/green hue. The brand is also using it on an athletic Flyknit sneaker that you can get for yourself starting this weekend.

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